3. When is your Loopiversary (date of your first blog on the Loop)? You're reading it!

4. How long have you been running? Dec '12. Started losing weight the day after Thanksgiving of that same year. My acid reflux was so bad, literally just about everything I ate gave me heartburn so bad I would throw up. Was up to 255 lbs at one time, got down to 200 lbs, and now I'm about 210 lbs and hardly ever any heartburn.

5. What is your favorite distance to race? The half. I've only ran one, but the feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming. By the way, the B/CS Scott & White Marathon/Half Marathon is worth a trip to Texas if you've never been. What an incredible event- so much support from the community!

6. Do you belong to a local running club?

7. Have you ever been to a Loopmeet or Loopfest? No. But I would host a heck of a BBQ for the B/CS S&W Marathon in Dec if anyone is running in it!

9. What is your favorite post-race treat? Um, I'm +200 lbs for a reason... Everything is my favorite post-race treat... But its hard to beat an ice cold Michelob Ultra after a run.

10. What one piece of running gear is your must-have item? Have to have music, hearing myself breathe kills me. Usually hip-hop (yes, even in TX) but I've been known to listen to a little Kid Rock, Bob Segar, or ESPN radio as well.

11. What socks do you wear when running? Dude, with a wife & 3 kids I feel lucky to have ANY socks at all. I'm married to a very mean Mexican woman, I'm not asking her for special running socks. As long as they are ankle socks I'm okay. My 15 year old would die if I left the house in shorts and long socks.

12. How do your knees feel? Knees feel fine. My big Fred Flinstone feet hurt like Hell. Had a pretty good fight with PF last year.

13. If you could go to any one running destination/event, where.what would you chose? I've always wanted to go to Chicago. I hear they have a pretty good little race there, too. But I'd love to go to any race where there was a Loopfest. I feel like I know so many of you already.

14. Hot or cold--which is worse to run in? I turn in to a 10 year old girl when the temps drop below 40ish... especially if there is wind involved.

15. If you have a running inspiration or mentor, who is it? A few actually. Of course you people on the Loop inspire me, especially when I need some motivation to get out there. I work with a guy in his mid 50s who has ran several marathons. His times are crazy fast, too. And my niece, who is actually more like a little sister. She got me in to running, and we've ran most of our races together.

16. What is your running mantra? (If your answer is "I have no mantra" or something lame like that, you must answer "Da do run, run, run. Da do run, run") Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Nothing lasts forever, even tough times. And runs.

17. Are there any other runners in your family? Other than my niece, no. My son has run a few 5Ks with me, and he would make a great distance runner, but he's just not that in to it. More of a baseball/basketball guy.

18. Roads or trails? Roads. Ran 1.25 miles on a trail one time- pretty sure I almost died. Itching to try it again though.

19. What's the funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a run? Well, not on a run but: During training for my half last year I needed some motivation, so I got a tattoo. Its a running stick figure man, and under it are columns of 5K, 10K and 13.1 with several dots underneath the 5K & 10K. I knew that would motivate me to see the 13.1 through to the end and earn that dot also. Literally seconds after my wife posted a picture of it on Facebook, people started commenting on how "happy & motivated" the running guy looks. Somehow we didn't notice it, but the tattoo artist made one of the guy's arms a little too long and lower down than normal, making it seem as though he was running, um, excited. I had a damn Viagra commercial on my arm!

Needless to say, it has been fixed. He's now carrying a flag, haha.

20. What is your most memorable running moment? There have been several. The first 5K with my niece will always be a favorite memory. Walking/running a 5K with my youngest daughter, getting beat like a drum from my son in a 5K, running on the gorgeous beaches of Destin, FL while on vacation, or just continually grinding out mile after mile on days when I don't feel like doing it. I tell my son all the time "Anybody can go to work/school/exercise when they feel great and everything is going good. Its the tough times that show you what people are made of."

But I have to say, crossing the finish line at my half, under my goal time with hurt foot and all, and being there when my niece crossed the finish line minutes later.... I'll never forget that as long as I live.

Just want to say again how much I enjoy reading everyone on here. You people are so inspiring and full of information. Keep it up!

Michelob Ultra, BBQ, now you are my kind of runner . First off, Congrats on the weight loss!! As for #19, if you have a run that last for longer than 4 hours, call you Physician immediately! Welcome to the Loop, Long May You Run!!!

The Loop is an active community of bloggers. "Loopsters" share their running experiences and give each other tons of encouragement. To get involved, post a comment on someone's blog or click the "Create New Post" button to start a blog of your own.